JP2757329B2 - Valve drive control method for automatic faucet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valve driving control method for an automatic faucet which detects an object such as a hand by a sensor and automatically discharges water by opening a valve.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic faucet is widely used in which a sensor detects a hand when a hand is put below a spout of a faucet and automatically discharges water. Thus, in the case of a conventional automatic faucet, the sensor only detects the presence or absence of an object, that is, it is not determined whether the object is a dynamic object or a static object. Such inconvenience has occurred.

For example, using a photoelectric sensor as a sensor,
The light emitting unit emits light, and the light reflected by the object is received by the light receiving unit. When the amount of received light is a certain amount or more, it is determined that the object is present, and the valve is driven to open to automatically discharge water from the water outlet. A faucet is considered, but in this case, the sensor determines only the presence or absence of an object. In other words, if there is a static object there, water will continue to flow.

In order to prevent this, it has been considered to automatically stop water discharge by a timer when water is continuously discharged for a certain period of time, but in this case, water continues to flow from the water discharge port for a long time and is wasted. There's a problem.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the gist of the present invention is to detect an object such as a hand by a sensor and open a valve based on the detection signal. A method of driving a valve of an automatic faucet that automatically discharges water as a state, wherein the sensor includes a light emitting unit,
With a photoelectric sensor having a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected by the object, and detecting a peak value of a light receiving signal wave such as a voltage signal wave from the light receiving unit by peak value detecting means,
Compared with a set value V ₁ by detecting and comparing means one difference ΔV of the peak value of the photodetection signal wave following the peak value of the photodetection signal wave at the transition amount detecting means, the relationship between them ΔV and V ₁ ΔV
> The valve when V ₁ is opened, certain valve when [Delta] V <V ₁ to close driving.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the valve can be driven and controlled by determining whether the object is a dynamic object or a static object. For example, when the object is a dynamic object, the light reception signal wave from the light receiving unit irregularly fluctuates, with the peak value increasing or decreasing according to the movement of the object. Therefore, if compared with a set value V ₁ takes the difference ΔV of the peak value of the first light receiving signal wave peak value to continue receiving the signal wave (e.g. immediately following received signal wave), the object is a dynamic object It can be determined whether the object is a static object. That is, when ΔV> V ₁ , it can be determined that the object is a dynamic object, and when ΔV <V ₁ , it can be determined that the object is a static object.

The present invention detects the change in the peak value of the received light signal wave in this manner, opens the valve when ΔV> V ₁ , and closes the valve when ΔV <V _1. According to the present invention, as long as there is a dynamic object within the detection range of the sensor, water can be continuously supplied, and when the dynamic object has disappeared, water discharge can be stopped immediately, and it can be prevented that water is continuously discharged unnecessarily. .

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes an automatic faucet installed on a kitchen sink, and reference numerals 12 and 14 denote a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit in the photoelectric sensor. The automatic faucet 10 emits infrared light from the light emitting unit 12, and receives light reflected by an object such as a hand by the light receiving unit 14. As a result, when it is determined that there is a dynamic object, the valve 26 (FIG. 1) is opened, and water is automatically discharged from the water discharge port 16.

FIG. 1 shows various elements of a control unit in the automatic faucet 10, including a light emitting unit 12 and a light receiving unit 1 in a photoelectric sensor.
4 is a block diagram together with a valve drive circuit 24 and a valve 26. In this automatic faucet 10,
As shown in the time chart of FIG. 2, infrared rays are emitted from the light emitting section 12 in a pulsed manner. If there is an object, the emitted light is reflected there, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 14.

The light receiving section 14 photoelectrically converts the reflected light and outputs it as a light receiving signal wave 28 such as a voltage signal wave as shown in FIG. This light receiving signal wave 28 is input to the peak value detecting circuit 18 where the peak value of each wave is detected.

The differential circuit 20 calculates the difference ΔV between the peak value of one light receiving signal wave 28 and the peak value of the immediately following light receiving signal wave 28.
And outputs a signal to the comparison circuit 22. The comparison circuit 22 compares the difference ΔV between the peak value and the peak value with a preset set value V _1, and as a result, ΔV> V ₁
In this case, it is determined that there is a dynamic object, and a determination signal is output to the valve drive circuit 24. Based on this, a valve open drive signal is supplied from the valve drive circuit 24 to the valve 26.

On the other hand, when the comparison circuit 22 determines that ΔV <V ₁ , the result is output to the valve drive circuit 24, and based on the result, the valve drive circuit 24 outputs the valve 2.
6 is supplied with a valve closing drive signal.

As described above, the method of this embodiment detects the difference ΔV between the peak values of the light receiving signal wave, compares it with a preset value V _1, and controls the valve driving based on the result. According to the method, a dynamic object and a static object can be clearly distinguished from each other to drive and control the valve. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the sensor from detecting a static target and continuing to supply water, and it is possible to optimize the water discharge operation of the automatic faucet.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention is applicable to an automatic water faucet of a retrofit type attached to a spout of an existing faucet. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an automatic faucet installed in various places other than a kitchen, and can be implemented in a form in which various changes are made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the gist thereof. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing various elements of a control unit in an automatic faucet of the present invention, together with a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, a valve drive circuit, a valve, and the like of a photoelectric sensor.

FIG. 2 is a time chart when opening / closing drive control of a valve is performed according to a change in a light receiving signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an automatic faucet to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic water tap 12 Light emitting part 14 Light receiving part 16 Water outlet 26 Valve 28 Light receiving signal wave

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of driving a valve of an automatic faucet of a type in which an object such as a hand is detected by a sensor and a valve is opened to automatically discharge water based on the detection signal, the sensor comprising: a light emitting unit; A photoelectric sensor having a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected by the object; a peak value detecting means for detecting a peak value of a light receiving signal wave such as a voltage signal wave from the light receiving unit; compared with a set value V ₁ by detecting and comparing means at the changing amount detecting means the difference ΔV of the peak value of the photodetection signal wave following the peak value, they ΔV and V ₁
When the relationship is ΔV> V ₁ , the valve is opened and ΔV
<Valve drive control method in the automatic faucet characterized by closing drive valves when V _1.